Havlicek Builders - contractor
Inspiration for a large traditional indoor rectangular lap pool in Chicago with a pool house and natural stone pavers.

A backyard retreat in Dallas, Texas that features a wonderful outdoor living area and luxury swimming pool. This private oasis features a custom designed covered outdoor living pavilion with exposed timber beams and stone columns. The pavilion also features an BBQ grill, outdoor kitchen and seating area for entertaining the entire family. The luxury swimming pool features a travertine terrace and limestone coping. A backdrop fountain feature with decorative spouts, urns and tile which provides a focal feature and relaxing background noise.

It started with vision. Then arrived fresh sight, seeing what was absent, seeing what was possible. Followed quickly by desire and creativity and know-how and communication and collaboration. When the Ramsowers first called Exterior Worlds, all they had in mind was an outdoor fountain. About working with the Ramsowers, Jeff Halper, owner of Exterior Worlds says, “The Ramsowers had great vision. While they didn’t know exactly what they wanted, they did push us to create something special for them. I get inspired by my clients who are engaged and focused on design like they were. When you get that kind of inspiration and dialogue, you end up with a project like this one.” For Exterior Worlds, our design process addressed two main features of the original space—the blank surface of the yard surrounded by looming architecture and plain fencing. With the yard, we dug out the center of it to create a one-foot drop in elevation in which to build a sunken pool. At one end, we installed a spa, lining it with a contrasting darker blue glass tile. Pedestals topped with urns anchor the pool and provide a place for spot color. Jets of water emerge from these pedestals. This moving water becomes a shield to block out urban noises and makes the scene lively. (And the children think it’s great fun to play in them.) On the side of the pool, another fountain, an illuminated basin built of limestone, brick and stainless steel, feeds the pool through three slots. The pool is counterbalanced by a large plot of grass. What is inventive about this grassy area is its sub-structure. Before putting down the grass, we installed a French drain using grid pavers that pulls water away, an action that keeps the soil from compacting and the grass from suffocating. The entire sunken area is finished off with a border of ground cover that transitions the eye to the limestone walkway and the retaining wall, where we used the same reclaimed bricks found in architectural features of the house. In the outer border along the fence line, we planted small trees that give the space scale and also hide some unsightly utility infrastructure. Boxwood and limestone gravel were embroidered into a parterre design to underscore the formal shape of the pool. Additionally, we planted a rose garden around the illuminated basin and a color garden for seasonal color at the far end of the yard across from the covered terrace. To address the issue of the house’s prominence, we added a pergola to the main wing of the house. The pergola is made of solid aluminum, chosen for its durability, and painted black. The Ramsowers had used reclaimed ornamental iron around their front yard and so we replicated its pattern in the pergola’s design. “In making this design choice and also by using the reclaimed brick in the pool area, we wanted to honor the architecture of the house,” says Halper. We continued the ornamental pattern by building an aluminum arbor and pool security fence along the covered terrace. The arbor’s supports gently curve out and away from the house. It, plus the pergola, extends the structural aspect of the house into the landscape. At the same time, it softens the hard edges of the house and unifies it with the yard. The softening effect is further enhanced by the wisteria vine that will eventually cover both the arbor and the pergola. From a practical standpoint, the pergola and arbor provide shade, especially when the vine becomes mature, a definite plus for the west-facing main house. This newly-created space is an updated vision for a traditional garden that combines classic lines with the modern sensibility of innovative materials. The family is able to sit in the house or on the covered terrace and look out over the landscaping. To enjoy its pleasing form and practical function. To appreciate its cool, soothing palette, the blues of the water flowing into the greens of the garden with a judicious use of color. And accept its invitation to step out, step down, jump in, enjoy.

Photo of a mid-sized traditional backyard rectangular natural pool in Chicago with concrete slab.

A complete contemporary backyard project was taken to another level of design. This amazing backyard was completed in the beginning of 2013 in Weston, Florida. The project included an Outdoor Kitchen with equipment by Lynx, and finished with Emperador Light Marble and a Spanish stone on walls. Also, a 32” X 16” wooden pergola attached to the house with a customized wooden wall for the TV on a structured bench with the same finishes matching the Outdoor Kitchen. The project also consist of outdoor furniture by The Patio District, pool deck with gold travertine material, and an ivy wall with LED lights and custom construction with Black Absolute granite finish and grey stone on walls. For more information regarding this or any other of our outdoor projects please visit our web-sight at www.luxapatio.com where you may also shop online at www.luxapatio/Online-Store.html. Our showroom is located in the Doral Design District at 3305 NW 79 Ave Miami FL. 33122 or contact us at 305-477-5141.

© Tom Crane
This is an example of a traditional backyard rectangular pool in Philadelphia.

Design ideas for a traditional custom-shaped pool in New York.

Mid-sized traditional backyard custom-shaped natural pool in Dallas with a water feature and concrete slab.

This is an example of a traditional rectangular pool in Toronto.

Landscaping done by Annapolis Landscaping ( www.annapolislandscaping.com) Pool done by Johnson Pools Edgewater MD ( www.jpools.com)
Design ideas for a large traditional backyard round pool in DC Metro with natural stone pavers.

Builder: Pillar Custom Homes, Inc.
Traditional custom-shaped infinity pool in Austin with a hot tub.

© Lauren Devon www.laurendevon.com
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional backyard rectangular pool in San Francisco with with a pool and natural stone pavers.

Inspiration for a traditional pool in New York.

Inspiration for a traditional rectangular pool in San Francisco with brick pavers.

Brick pavers pool surround with white pergola. Iron pool furniture with custom cushions, custom white marble table.
This is an example of an expansive traditional backyard custom-shaped pool in Los Angeles with a pool house and brick pavers.

Custom pool and cabana with fountain-like jets and spa
Expansive traditional backyard rectangular pool in Chicago with a pool house and natural stone pavers.

Breathtaking view of infinity edge pool and spa overlooking Lake Lanier at sunset.
Large traditional backyard rectangular infinity pool in Atlanta with a water feature and concrete pavers.

This custom remodel and home addition was strategically done to match the existing traditional motif of the home. Our team built an additional room on the main house; renovated the matching pool house; added a copper roof and a custom bar; and completed a full exterior renovation. We located and installed matching reclaimed brick; matched the existing siding; and custom built the pergola to match the white trim and the trellis on the rest of the house. The benches and the fire pit were custom made for the party-loving homeowners. Origin sliding glass doors allow a variety of arrangements in order to open the space to the pool deck, or to close it in for privacy. Photo Cred--Russell Missonis Photography

Photo of an expansive traditional backyard custom-shaped infinity pool in Phoenix with a pool house.